Sec. 21a-316. (Formerly Sec. 19-504k). “Practitioner” defined. As used in this chapter, “practitioner” means: (1) A physician, dentist, veterinarian, podiatrist, optometrist, physician assistant licensed pursuant to section 20-12b, advanced practice registered nurse as defined in subsection (b) of section 20-87a, nurse-midwife, scientific investigator or other person licensed, registered or otherwise permitted to distribute, dispense, conduct research with respect to or to administer a controlled substance in the course of professional practice or research in this state; (2) a hospital or other institution licensed, registered or otherwise permitted to distribute, dispense, conduct research with respect to or to administer a controlled substance in the course of professional practice or research in this state.

Sec. 21a-317. (Formerly Sec. 19-504l). Registration required. Every practitioner who distributes, administers or dispenses any controlled substance or who proposes to engage in distributing, prescribing, administering or dispensing any controlled substance within this state shall (1) obtain a certificate of registration issued by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, and (2) register for access to the electronic prescription drug monitoring program established pursuant to subsection (j) of section 21a-254. Registration for access to said program shall be in a manner prescribed by said commissioner.

Sec. 21a-318. (Formerly Sec. 19-504m). Application form. Fee. Exemptions. An application for registration pursuant to this chapter shall be made upon a form provided by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection and shall be accompanied by a fee of twenty dollars for biennial registration, except that a practitioner who obtains such registration pursuant to the practitioner’s employment with a municipality, this state or the federal government shall not be required to pay the fee.

Sec. 21a-319. (Formerly Sec. 19-504n). Professional or institutional approval to precede registration. No certificate of registration shall be issued, maintained or renewed under this chapter unless or until the applicant has furnished proof satisfactory to the Commissioner of Consumer Protection that he or she is licensed or duly authorized to practice his or her profession by the appropriate state licensing board, commission or registration agency; or, in the case of a hospital or other institution, by the appropriate state agency having jurisdiction over the licensure, registration or approval of such establishment.

Sec. 21a-320. (Formerly Sec. 19-504o). Public interest standard for registration. The commissioner shall register an applicant unless he or she determines that the issuance of such registration is inconsistent with the public interest. In determining the public interest, the commissioner shall consider the following factors:

(1) Maintenance of effective controls against diversion of controlled substances into other than duly authorized legitimate medical, scientific, or commercial channels;

(2) Compliance with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations concerning controlled substances;

(3) Any conviction of the applicant under any state or federal law relating to controlled substances;

(4) Furnishing by the applicant of false or fraudulent information or material in any application filed under this chapter;

(6) Prescribing, distributing, administering or dispensing of controlled substances in schedules other than those specified in the practitioner’s state or federal registration; and

(7) Suspension, revocation, expiration or surrender of, or other disciplinary action taken against, any professional license or registration held by the practitioner.

(P.A. 77-485, S. 6, 13; P.A. 11-121, S. 6.)

History: Sec. 19-504o transferred to Sec. 21a-320 in 1983 and alphabetic Subdiv. indicators replaced with numeric indicators for consistency with general practice throughout general statutes; P.A. 11-121 added Subdiv. (7) re disciplinary action taken against professional license or registration held by practitioner, effective January 1, 2012.

Sec. 21a-321. (Formerly Sec. 19-504p). Renewal of registration. Fee. Registration may be renewed by application to the Commissioner of Consumer Protection. Renewal applications shall be in such form as the commissioner shall prescribe and shall be accompanied by a biennial renewal fee of forty dollars. A separate fee shall be required for each place of business or professional practice where the practitioner stores, distributes or dispenses controlled substances.

Sec. 21a-322. (Formerly Sec. 19-504q). Grounds for disciplinary action. Civil penalty. The commissioner may suspend, revoke or refuse to renew a registration, place a registration on probation, place conditions on a registration and assess a civil penalty of not more than one thousand dollars per violation of this chapter, for sufficient cause. Any of the following shall be sufficient cause for such action by the commissioner: (1) The furnishing of false or fraudulent information in any application filed under this chapter; (2) conviction of a crime under any state or federal law relating to the registrant’s profession, controlled substances or drugs or fraudulent practices, including, but not limited to, fraudulent billing practices; (3) failure to maintain effective controls against diversion of controlled substances into other than duly authorized legitimate medical, scientific, or commercial channels; (4) the suspension, revocation, expiration or surrender of the practitioner’s federal controlled substance registration; (5) prescribing, distributing, administering or dispensing a controlled substance in schedules other than those specified in the practitioner’s state or federal registration or in violation of any condition placed on the practitioner’s registration; (6) suspension, revocation, expiration, surrender or other disciplinary action taken against any professional license or registration held by the practitioner; (7) abuse or excessive use of drugs; (8) possession, use, prescription for use or distribution of controlled substances or legend drugs, except for therapeutic or other proper medical or scientific purpose; (9) a practitioner’s failure to account for disposition of controlled substances as determined by an audit of the receipt and disposition records of said practitioner; and (10) failure to keep records of medical evaluations of patients and all controlled substances dispensed, administered or prescribed to patients by a practitioner.

History: P.A. 82-355 added new Subdiv. permitting disciplinary action against practitioner who fails to account for disposition of controlled substances; Sec. 19-504q transferred to Sec. 21a-322 in 1983 and alphabetic Subdiv. indicators replaced with numeric indicators for consistency with general practice throughout general statutes; P.A. 85-275 authorized the commissioner of consumer protection to refuse to renew a registration for sufficient cause; P.A. 07-252 expanded disciplinary actions available to commissioner for enforcement of registration provisions, authorized civil penalty of not more than $1,000 per violation, amended Subdivs. (2) and (5) to expand grounds for disciplinary action thereunder and added Subdiv. (10) re disciplinary action for failure to keep records of patient medical evaluations and controlled substances; P.A. 11-121 amended Subdiv. (6) by replacing former provision with “suspension, revocation, expiration, surrender or other disciplinary action taken against any professional license or registration held by the practitioner”, effective January 1, 2012.

Sec. 21a-323. (Formerly Sec. 19-504r). Hearing re refusal to renew registration or re denial, suspension or revocation of registration. Before denying, suspending, revoking or refusing to renew a registration, the commissioner shall afford the applicant an opportunity for hearing in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54. Notice of such hearing shall be given by certified mail. The commissioner may subpoena witnesses and require the production of records, papers and documents pertinent to such hearing.

(P.A. 77-485, S. 7, 13; P.A. 85-275, S. 2.)

History: Sec. 19-504r transferred to Sec. 21a-323 in 1983; P.A. 85-275 provided that an applicant for renewal of a registration shall have an opportunity for a hearing before the commissioner refuses such renewal and granted the commissioner subpoena power in connection with hearings.

Sec. 21a-324. (Formerly Sec. 19-504s). Voluntary surrender of certificate; effect upon registration. A practitioner may at any time voluntarily surrender his or her state controlled substance certificate of registration for any or all schedules of controlled substances for any of the following reasons: (1) As an indication of his or her good faith in desiring to remedy any incorrect or unlawful practices or (2) as a voluntary act arising out of his or her desire to terminate prescribing or handling of controlled substances in any or all schedules. Any such voluntary surrender shall constitute authority for the Commissioner of Consumer Protection or his or her authorized agent to terminate and revoke any state controlled substance registration without a hearing or any other proceeding.

Sec. 21a-325. (Formerly Sec. 19-504t). Disposal of controlled substances upon surrender of registration. Upon the surrender of a controlled substance certificate of registration for any or all schedules of controlled substances, as defined in section 21a-243, the registrant shall dispose of stocks of controlled substances as provided in regulations adopted under section 21a-262 or by following the procedure for disposition of controlled substances as outlined in Section 1307.21 of the Code of Federal Regulations or any successor regulation.

Sec. 21a-327. (Formerly Sec. 19-504v). Pharmacies, pharmacists and nurses exempt from chapter. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to include pharmacies or pharmacists licensed under chapter 400j or nurses licensed under chapter 378 who are not advanced practice registered nurses.

Sec. 21a-328. (Formerly Sec. 19-504w). Penalty for failure to register. Upon the failure of a practitioner, as defined in section 21a-316, to comply with the provisions of this chapter the Attorney General at the request of the Commissioner of Consumer Protection is authorized to apply in the name of the state of Connecticut to the Superior Court for an order temporarily or permanently restraining and enjoining any practitioner from distributing, administering, dispensing or prescribing any controlled substance.